I have to say I like Alex's solution the best. However, I am sticking with my old fashioned 4x3 panels as long as possible. And only the 2D panels on the 4th monitor.

Chuck- one of my favourite ideas for larger monitors- both 4:3 or WideScr., is this one for PMDG 747. Here the FO panel is added along with dual CDUs,Throttle console and lower EICAS & EICAS SW panel. In this shot there are ALSO triple Views- LFwd,Fwd,RFwd.Believe it or not, this actually flew on my ancient AMD 1.8 system!! Alas, on a 19" CRT(now 10 years old), everything was too small to be readable! Imagine adding more Views Left and Right on those unused outer monitors in this experiment!Adding the FO panel would be a neat use of a very large widescreen monitor.In fact, why go to a larger monitor if not to display more info?Alex ReidAloft near CYVR ! (Extra windscreen post is due to the added FO panel)

Here's my solution..I have a Nvida video card which allows me to create a custom resolution, thus turning my widescreen LCD into a 4:3 LCD. Guages are round, no stretching. The end result is two black bands on each side of the LCD thus giving you a 4:3 LCD. For anyone interested, here's how I created a "custom resolution":The steps below are written based on my setup and using the "newer" NVIDIA Control panel and 180.48 drivers. For the "older" NVIDIA control panel, you can do the same thing, but its call "Fixed aspect ratio timing" on the tab called "Display Mode Timing".For the 191.07 drivers the procedure is very much the same, but it's called "Change resolution" under the display section, and you'd then click on "add resolutions", and then "Create Custom Resolution".My setup:a. NVIDIA GeForce 9800GT video card.b. Windows XPc. 180.48 video driver installed.d. Samsung P2350 23" Widescreen LCD with a native resolution of 1920 x 1080.e. I'm using the "VGA" type video connector with my LCD. If using the DVI type connection, this method will work, but, I have not yet figured out how to center the new 4:3 screen on my widescreen LCD. The new 4:3 screen will be either on the left or right hand side of the LCD if using the DVI connection. Creating a Custom Resolution. (Updated)1. Find out and set your LCD to its "native resolution". It must be set to the native resolution for this to work. Also note your native vertical lines, as we'll be using that value later. Example: native resolution of my LCD is 1920 x 1080. My native vertical lines are 1080. 2. Right click on your desktop and start the "NVIDIA Control Panel".3. Ensure "Advanced settings" is selected.4. On the left pane, under display, click on "Manage custom resolutions".5. On the Right pane, check "Allow modes not exposed by the display" and click on "Create".When you check "allow modes not exposed by the display", you're allowing Windows XP and FS2004 to see the new screen resolution we're about to create.6. **Important Note: after clicking the "Create" button, DO NOT CHANGE THE RESOLUTION SETTINGS at this point. Before changing any values, you have to click on "Advanced>>" to expand the current window, and on the "Timing standard" line change "Auto" to "Manual". If you change the resolutions values before changing to "Manual" the custom resolution will not work.7. This step will be different for everyone, depending upon your native resolution. I created a new screen resolution of 1440x1080 which fills most of my widescreen LCD, and maintain a 4:3 aspect ratio.The concept is to have as much of your widescreen LCD filled with your new 4:3 display. My native vertical lines (height) is 1080, so to achieve a 4:3 display, I'll need a new Horizontal pixel width of: 1080 x 1.3333333 = 1440.Note: if your LCD already has a 1440x1080 resolution by default, you cannot create another one. Instead you must create one using values that are slightly different (example: 1441x1080). If you create a resolution that you already have by default, the 4:3 screen will not work.For my 1920x1080 widescreen LCD I changed the following lines:Custom Display mode values Horizontal Desktop pixels: 1440 <------Changed from 1920 to 1440Vertical desktop lines: 1080 <----Keep the same for maximum vertical displayBack-end parametersHorizontal Front Porch: 326 <----changed this value to 326 to center (left to right) my new 4:3 screen on my widescreen LCD. You'll have to experiment.Vertical front porch: 4 <----I kept this the same, but you can change this to shift/move your new 4:3 screen (up/down) on your widescreen LCD.Active Horizontal pixels: 1440 <----changed from 1920 to 1440.Active vertical lines: 1080 <----Keep the same for maximum vertical display. Horizontal total: 2200 <---Do not changeVertical total: 1125 <---Do not change. Note: The "Horizontal total" and the "Vertical total" are preloaded with the currect values for your LCD, providing you did step 6 correctly. If you did not follow step 6 correctly, the values will not be pre-loaded correctly and your 4:3 display will not work. It's important to note again, you must be doing this procedure, with you LCD set to its native resolution, or these values will not pre-load correctly. When you create a custom resolution using the 191.07 drivers, the descriptions above are slightly renamed.8. Press "Test" and see the result. If the result looks good, press "yes" before the time runs out, to save this new custom resolution. If you need to adjust your 4:3 display up/down or right/left, press "no" and adjust you "Horizontal Front Porch" and/or "Vertical front porch" to center.Again, this procedure to correctly center your new 4:3 display, works only when using the VGA type connector. I don't know how to center the 4:3 display, when the DVI connection is used.9. Close the "NVIDIA Control panel", right click the desktop, click "Properties", select "Settings" tab and change the desktop screen resolution to the new one we just created (1440x1080) and click "apply" and yes. Confirm your widescreen desktop is now a 4:3 display. 10. You can now change our desktop screen resolution back to your desired resolution.11. Start FS2004, click on Settings, Display, Hardware tab, and pick the newly created custom resolution (1440x1080).12. Enter Full Screen mode and you should have a centered 4:3 display.http://forums1.avsim.net/index.php?showtopic=245280&hl=RJ

Here's my solution..I have a Nvida video card which allows me to create a custom resolution, thus turning my widescreen LCD into a 4:3 LCD. Guages are round, no stretching. The end result is two black bands on each side of the LCD thus giving you a 4:3 LCD. For anyone interested, here's how I created a "custom resolution":The steps below are written based on my setup and using the "newer" NVIDIA Control panel and 180.48 drivers. For the "older" NVIDIA control panel, you can do the same thing, but its call "Fixed aspect ratio timing" on the tab called "Display Mode Timing".For the 191.07 drivers the procedure is very much the same, but it's called "Change resolution" under the display section, and you'd then click on "add resolutions", and then "Create Custom Resolution".My setup:a. NVIDIA GeForce 9800GT video card.b. Windows XPc. 180.48 video driver installed.d. Samsung P2350 23" Widescreen LCD with a native resolution of 1920 x 1080.e. I'm using the "VGA" type video connector with my LCD. If using the DVI type connection, this method will work, but, I have not yet figured out how to center the new 4:3 screen on my widescreen LCD. The new 4:3 screen will be either on the left or right hand side of the LCD if using the DVI connection. Creating a Custom Resolution. (Updated)1. Find out and set your LCD to its "native resolution". It must be set to the native resolution for this to work. Also note your native vertical lines, as we'll be using that value later. Example: native resolution of my LCD is 1920 x 1080. My native vertical lines are 1080. 2. Right click on your desktop and start the "NVIDIA Control Panel".3. Ensure "Advanced settings" is selected.4. On the left pane, under display, click on "Manage custom resolutions".5. On the Right pane, check "Allow modes not exposed by the display" and click on "Create".When you check "allow modes not exposed by the display", you're allowing Windows XP and FS2004 to see the new screen resolution we're about to create.6. **Important Note: after clicking the "Create" button, DO NOT CHANGE THE RESOLUTION SETTINGS at this point. Before changing any values, you have to click on "Advanced>>" to expand the current window, and on the "Timing standard" line change "Auto" to "Manual". If you change the resolutions values before changing to "Manual" the custom resolution will not work.7. This step will be different for everyone, depending upon your native resolution. I created a new screen resolution of 1440x1080 which fills most of my widescreen LCD, and maintain a 4:3 aspect ratio.The concept is to have as much of your widescreen LCD filled with your new 4:3 display. My native vertical lines (height) is 1080, so to achieve a 4:3 display, I'll need a new Horizontal pixel width of: 1080 x 1.3333333 = 1440.Note: if your LCD already has a 1440x1080 resolution by default, you cannot create another one. Instead you must create one using values that are slightly different (example: 1441x1080). If you create a resolution that you already have by default, the 4:3 screen will not work.For my 1920x1080 widescreen LCD I changed the following lines:Custom Display mode values Horizontal Desktop pixels: 1440 <------Changed from 1920 to 1440Vertical desktop lines: 1080 <----Keep the same for maximum vertical displayBack-end parametersHorizontal Front Porch: 326 <----changed this value to 326 to center (left to right) my new 4:3 screen on my widescreen LCD. You'll have to experiment.Vertical front porch: 4 <----I kept this the same, but you can change this to shift/move your new 4:3 screen (up/down) on your widescreen LCD.Active Horizontal pixels: 1440 <----changed from 1920 to 1440.Active vertical lines: 1080 <----Keep the same for maximum vertical display. Horizontal total: 2200 <---Do not changeVertical total: 1125 <---Do not change. Note: The "Horizontal total" and the "Vertical total" are preloaded with the currect values for your LCD, providing you did step 6 correctly. If you did not follow step 6 correctly, the values will not be pre-loaded correctly and your 4:3 display will not work. It's important to note again, you must be doing this procedure, with you LCD set to its native resolution, or these values will not pre-load correctly. When you create a custom resolution using the 191.07 drivers, the descriptions above are slightly renamed.8. Press "Test" and see the result. If the result looks good, press "yes" before the time runs out, to save this new custom resolution. If you need to adjust your 4:3 display up/down or right/left, press "no" and adjust you "Horizontal Front Porch" and/or "Vertical front porch" to center.Again, this procedure to correctly center your new 4:3 display, works only when using the VGA type connector. I don't know how to center the 4:3 display, when the DVI connection is used.9. Close the "NVIDIA Control panel", right click the desktop, click "Properties", select "Settings" tab and change the desktop screen resolution to the new one we just created (1440x1080) and click "apply" and yes. Confirm your widescreen desktop is now a 4:3 display. 10. You can now change our desktop screen resolution back to your desired resolution.11. Start FS2004, click on Settings, Display, Hardware tab, and pick the newly created custom resolution (1440x1080).12. Enter Full Screen mode and you should have a centered 4:3 display.http://forums1.avsim.net/index.php?showtopic=245280&hl=RJ

I use the MATROX TH2GO (Triple-Head-to-Go) with one PC and three 4:3 monitors for both FSX and FS9. TH2GO compels the user to VC which I quickly adapted to after claiming never to make the switch. I'm not sure if TH2GO is compatible with widescreen monitors? perhaps somebody could advise?

I am a die-hard 2D pilot. I only use 3D when on approach or to reach some of the co-pilot functions. My solution is to redo the default 2D panel bitmap and resize/move the gauges to fit again. I use a combination of MS Paint, Photoshop and FS Panel Studio to do so, although Photoshop is not necessary if you don't have it. My wide screen is a 24" Dell with 1920x1200 native resolution and resizing the panel is not an option for me, and I like the extra space a stretched panel gives me - it gives room for some of the add-on gauges I've grown to know and love such as cockpit commander and some others. It is some amount of work but it's worth it in the end. I thought of posting some of my work to share but I'm afraid of copyright ramifications and therefore will not be doing that. If you PM me I would be glad to discuss it with you, perhaps share some of the work I've done and am doing, and how to do it "my way" if you are interested.